Welcome to my Papercrafting corner of the world! Thank you for visiting today!

My Life Scripture

Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV English Standard Version) Holy Bible

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let the reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Here are the instructions for the Notecards from an earlier post. Thanks to Shelia from "She's a Sassy Lady" for sending me a set of these little beauties. And another thanks to Kristy at "Craftin On My Door" for the original instructions.

Supplies needed:

**1 piece 8 1/2 x 11 inch cardstock---scored horizontally at 5 1/2 inches, scored vertically at 2 1/2 inches, and holes punched on either side of the card stock at 1/2 inch and 4 1/2 inchs from the bottom edge on both sides.﻿

Fold the bottom section up, match the holes and thread the ribbon through all layers to the outside of the holder.

To hold the ribbon in place, secure it at the fold. I use Tacky Tape to hold the ribbon.

To decorate the front of the folder, I cut a strip of patterned paper to fit, added a border, a flower, and a stick pin. The letter is cut from a Cuttlebug die.

The notecards are created by adhering the contrasting paper to the cardstock and adding a decorative border at the top. The letter is from a Cuttlebug die. The envelopes are A2 envelopes with a stamped and colored image on the front. The envelope seals are made from the negative Cuttlebug cut glued to a scalloped circle. The seal was run through a Xyron machine to form a sticker.

I participated in a Christmas Cookie Recipe Swap recently on the Cricut Message Board. The Swap was sponsored by AmyS. She is grouping, sorting, and mailing even as I type! I really appreciate all the hard work she is doing to make this Swap successful!

This is my recipe, "Louise Richie's Cookies". It is a lemon bar cookie that is delicious! Louise Richie was a friend of my older sister. I never met Louise, but I have made her cookies many times! Cut the cookies into small bars. The cookies are very rich and the lemon flavor is intense!

LOUISE RICHIE’S COOKIES (Lemon Bars)

Crust:

½ cup softened butter2 tsp water

2 Tbsp sugar2 tsp vanilla

1 egg2 cups all-purpose flour

¼ tsp salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.Spray a 9x12-inch jelly roll pan with vegetable oil.Mix all ingredients until well blended.Press mixture into pan and bake for 5 minutes.

Filling:

¼ cup softened butter2 tsp vanilla

2 cups packed brown sugar1 cup shredded coconut

3 eggs1 Tbsp lemon juice (fresh)

2 tsp all-purpose flour1 cup chopped pecans

¼ tsp salt

Mix all ingredients until well blended.Pour over baked layer in jelly roll pan.Bake for 35 minutes at 325 degrees.

Icing:

½ box sifted powdered sugarevaporated milk to mix

juice of 1 lemon

Mix until smooth. Spread over warm baked cookies with a pastry brush to form a glaze.Cut into small squares while warm.Let cool in pan.

To store, layer the cookies in an airtight container with wax paper between layers.Store in refrigerator.Be sure to cut into squares while warm.The crust becomes hard, especially when refrigerated.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day and I have been busy for the past two days! Cleaning house! I spent yesterday with the Rug Doctor! I certainly did get a workout, lugging that machine up and down two sets of stairs! Today, at least my carpet and rugs are clean!

I have not had much time to create card fronts, but here are the ones that I completed!

What a wonderful surprise I had yesterday. My daughter came by the house and saw what I was doing! She couldn't wait to begin coloring the images! Amanda has a degree in design, so I asked her to choose whatever colors she wanted for coloring the images. Then, she chose the paper to go with the image.

Here is the fun part...I create cards from her colors and design choices! There have been some challenges, but I wouldn't stop until I had a card front made! We had the most wonderful day working on these cards! I am blessed to have such a talented daughter!

Here are more of the A2 card fronts we completed yesterday. I will make the card bases and add sentiments before Thanksgiving Day!

My daughter left a stack of colored images and coordinated paper for me to create cards. I hope to get more done today!

Friday, November 18, 2011

I am preparing for a Card Making Marathon! I plan to create as many A2 cards as possible before Thanksgiving Day! I donate cards to a local church. I was notified yesterday that all of my cards have been sent. I must create more before next Thursday!

Here are my preparations for the Marathon...(I will post the completed cards that I make each day)

**Stamp as many sentiments and images as possible! I used wooden block stamps and clear stamps on white paper. I used a dye ink so the images would dry quickly. I plan to use Sharpie markers and colored pencils.

**I stamped several images and then cleaned the stamps. I have a small kitchen area next to my craft room. I clean the stamps and let them dry. I will put them away later!! :0)

**I will be using scraps of printed paper for the most part, but I will select whole sheets when necessary. I have already cut several A2 card fronts from solid colored cardstock. All card fronts will be completed before adhering to the card base.

**I store scraps of solid colored paper in drawers.

**I will need inspiration for cards, so I will be using some of my favorite resources!

﻿

**This is my craft room. I had to add a long table in the middle of the room. I am usually working on more than one project and this extra table was the answer to my REALLY MESSY, CROWDED work table.

**I had visitors this morning! These pictures are through the windows and between the blinds!

﻿

Have a wonderful weekend! Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog!

Monday, November 14, 2011

I had "leftover" images from last year's Christmas cards. The images were so pretty, I couldn't let them go to waste! Here is what I did with my "leftovers"! Scroll to the bottom of this post for directions to create the image.

Quick and Easy! Embossed paper, leftover image, some ribbon, and a border punch!

Keep scrolling for a "card-surprise"!

They are "card fronts"...but cards that I will be sending! The scene is from a Cricut "Lite" Cartridge, "Inspired Hearts". I used these last year on my cards and had some left over!

The card front was embossed with the Cuttlebug Folder "Stars", a sentiment was stamped on the inside of the scene image, the blue "vellum" is from an index card that I bought at Big Lots, the image was adhered to the cardfront, white ribbon was tied around the front, and a border of stars from "American Girl" was attached.

I cut another piece of cardstock the same size as the card front and glued it to the back of the card. This gives stability to the card.

To make the card stand-up, I cut a triangle shape, folded the triangle in half.

I glued one-half the triangle to the back of the card to form a stand. I have highlighted the side that is glued for placement.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Today was the last day of our cardmaking classes at the Georgia state prison in our area. There were 15 inmates in the session. We had a wonderful time! Everyone was so attentive! The participants followed the instructions and created several really pretty Christmas cards!

One woman was so happy about the class. She had a family member that would soon have a birthday and she did not have a card to send. She made a really pretty birthday card instead of a Christmas card. She was so excited about making the card! Two other inmates were amazed they were allowed to use scissors! One had not had a pair of scissors in her hand in 2 years, the other inmate in 7 years. Wow!

Cheryl is our church librarian. She brought several boxes of books for the various libraries in the prison. The books were well received!

I have been blessed in so many ways through this activity. I have a renewed appreciation for our penal system in Georgia. It was wonderful to witness the compassion that the employees have for the inmates. Yet, a sense of "law and order" is dominant in all areas of the prison. Cheryl and I will probably be going back to conduct more classes. Scrapbooking, paper quilling, and cardmaking are the topics that are most popular!

This three-day activity would not have been possible without the support of so many people. Many members of the Cricut Circle Message Board, especially, Softbrn, were major supporters through their donation of papercrafting supplies and equipment. Another message board member, Quiltfrog, donated 221 rubber stamps! Cheryl and I belong to the same Sunday School class and "Singing Saints" choir. The members of these organizations were wonderful benefactors, too! A local printing service donated cardstock scraps. Thank you to all who had a part in this project! We could not have done this without you!

Cheryl and I had a glimpse into the life of the inmates at this prison. It was our pleasure to be a brief distraction for the daily routine of these inmates. The director promised to take pictures of some finished cards and email them to me. When I get these pictures, I will share them with you! It is our desire that something we taught has stirred the creativity in these inmates and they will want to continue to make handmade cards!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

I have created 3 Christmas cards using the Cricut Cartridge "Ribbons and Rosettes" and the Cricut Cartridge "Doodlecharms".

The rosette was created using the Gypsy and a 12x12 mat. I used the first Rosette in the handbook (top left corner of the overlay). I welded 5 of the short rosette pieces together to form one long panel. The rosette image is cut at 1 1/2 inches. When the rosette is completed, it will be approximately 3 inches across. I cut the Doodlecharm images at 2 inches (approx)

By welding the short pieces together, I am able to cut out the rosette panel in one continous panel. A tip...move the pieces together until the decorative edge forms a continuous line. The tab at the end of the short piece will be overlapping the end of the other.

I scored the rosette panels at 1/2 inch, turn it over and scored at 1/4 inch. Then accordian folded the panel, glued the ends together, pressed the panel down and formed the rosette. I used Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive and a round piece of paper to hold the rosette flat.

Christmas scrapbooking paper, sentiment sticker, and ribbon from Walmart was used to complete the card front.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

We arrived at the prison at 9:00 AM. After checking in and going through the metal detector, we made the long walk down to the area where the card making classes are held in the mental health wing. I carried more donated paper, colored pencils, glue sticks, and stickers for the department.

Cheryl and I were told that today's class would be rowdy and loud. We were expecting the group to less attentive and probably work slower than the class from yesterday. I even ask some of my fellow papercrafting buddies at the Cricut Circle message board to say a specific prayer for us...that the inmates would be quiet and attentive and listen to instructions.

As the inmates entered the room, they went to their chairs and sat down. We chatted as the room filled up. It was so pleasant. Everyone was so polite and we laughed and talked for about 30 minutes. The director and her assistant were completely surprised! This was not the behavior they expected. We began the class with everyone paying close attention to what was being said. The participants followed all of the instructions and began making cards.

Today was amazing! God answered the prayers that were said for this group! The inmates worked quietly and quickly. Some even finished 2 cards! The creativity was wonderful and there were some really pretty cards made! They are excited about next Tuesday when they will be allowed to make more cards!

One young lady came up to me and was so excited about her new skill! She plans to make lots of cards in the future! I believe she would have hugged my neck if she had been allowed to do so! I think she has found a new hobby/passion!

Cheryl and I will return to the prison on Thursday for our final day of cardmaking classes. Please continue to pray that we will be effective in our teaching.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Today is Day #1 of Carolyn and Cheryl's Great Adventure! We are going to the Lee Arrendale Georgia State Prison for women to conduct a 2 hour cardmaking class for 15 inmates. Because of the generousity of several Cricut Circle members, my Sunday School class, the "Singing Saints", and other wonderful people, I will be taking a carload of papercrafting donations for the classes.

It is early morning right now! Please keep Cheryl and me in your thoughts and prayers! We want to be a positive influence in everything we do today, Tuesday, and Thursday of this week! I will let you know more about our Great Adventure this afternoon...when we get out of prison! :0)

*Update*

1:17 PM...What a fabulous morning! Unfortunately there will be no pictures! Cameras are not allowed!

There were 14 inmates in the class. They were so appreciative of the workshop! The goal of the class was to show the difference between a handmade card and a 'homemade' card! I am happy to say they all made handmade cards! All the cards were unique! They are excited because the activities director told them they would work on the cards next week, too!

We had step-by-step directions for making a simple A2 card using assorted sizes of rectangles, ribbon, and sentiments. I had them complete each step before going on to the next. We made complete cards fronts which were then glued to the card base.

Cheryl, the activities director, 3 inmate helpers, and I worked the whole time helping each participant. There was paper, ribbon, stickers, glue sticks, etc. all over the tables, but it all came together when completed cards were shown!

The girls were given instructions on how to use glue sticks...the correct way! :0) No lumps, no bumps, and no wet spots! They caught on quickly! Because...they didn't want 'homemade' cards! :0)

The class tomorrow will be about the same size, but the learning level will be different. We discussed our game plan with the activities director before Cheryl and I left. We are ready to make cards, again!